May 9, 2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 01:29 US government prepares further aid for Ukraine +++
The US government says it is working on further aid packages for Ukraine. “I think you can expect that we will return to the pace that we had before the funding cutoff,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a news conference. The latest $61 billion in military aid was delayed six months after a blockage in the US Congress.
+++ 23:35 Drones set course for Odessa +++
The Ukrainian Air Force warns of further drone attacks: Russian Shahed drones are on their way from the Black Sea and are heading towards southern Odessa, it is said.
+++ 22:23 US minister does not yet see any effects of US arms deliveries to Kiev +++
It is still “very early” to see improvements on the Ukrainian front, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told senators, according to the Kyiv Independent. By this he means the effects of the country’s new arms deliveries to Ukraine. The USA decided on the billion-dollar package at the end of April, after months of negotiations. Shortly afterwards, the Pentagon expressed its willingness to send the first weapons to Ukraine. “It takes time to develop some of these capabilities,” Austin now tells the Senate Defense Subcommittee. “It’s hard to buy time back,” he continues. “I think that without this help, Ukraine would have a very difficult time defending itself against superior forces.”
+++ 22:11 Ukraine restricts power supply after massive air strikes +++
After massive attacks on the energy infrastructure, Ukraine is restricting the country’s electricity supply. State power utility Ukrenergo said its headquarters were “forced to restrict power supply to industry and commerce” from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. due to “power shortages” resulting from the attack. This will happen to the same extent in all regions of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as “premeditated, calculated and underhanded” in a nightly video message. Russia targeted “vital civilian infrastructure” with almost 60 missiles and more than 20 Shahed drones of Iranian design and did not target “a single military target.”
+++ 21:38 Putin praises his economic union as a means against sanctions +++
Russian President Vladimir Putin sees the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as an effective tool against Western sanctions. “The Eurasian Union has shown its effectiveness in the face of new challenges, including those related to the policy of sanctions and the dismantling of many pillars of international trade pursued by some countries,” said the Kremlin leader at the EAEU anniversary summit in Moscow. In addition to Russia, the union, which was founded ten years ago, includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The West has imposed numerous sanctions against Russia after the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
+++ 20:48 Zelenskyj also invites Orban to the peace summit +++
During a telephone conversation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invites Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the peace summit in Switzerland, which will take place on June 15th and 16th. “I had a long and focused conversation with Hungary’s @PM_ViktorOrban and invited him to the peace summit,” Zelensky wrote on X. “Hungary’s position is important for us to advance peace and our common regional security.” Both also spoke about Ukraine’s EU integration. “I am confident that Ukraine’s rapid accession to the EU will be beneficial for both states.”
Hungary is Russia’s closest ally within the EU. Budapest has repeatedly rejected sanctions over the attack on Ukraine. In addition, the country repeatedly hinders the EU’s support for Kiev.
+++ 20:10 Scholz calls on Europe to provide more Patriot systems for Ukraine +++
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is once again calling on European partner countries to deliver more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. Germany decided in April to provide Kiev with a third Patriot battery, “because we hope that there will be others in Europe who will take the same step,” he said in Berlin. It is “impressive” that Germany, with its three Patriot systems, makes the “vast majority” available, “but the point is that there are enough of them, and that’s why many European countries have to see what they can do.” said Scholz.
You can read all previous developments here.